Rail-straightening device.



J. S. WAGNER.

RAIL STRAIGHTENING DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED APR.14, 1913.

1,077,01 9, Patented 001.. 28, 1913.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

J. S. WAGNER.

RAIL -STRAIGHTPNING DEVICE. APPLICATION FILED APR.14, 1913.-

1,077,019. Patented Oct. 28, 1913.

2 SHEETBSHEET 2.

JOHN S. WAGNER, OF REID WING, MINNESOTA.

RAIL-STRAIGHTENING DEVICE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed April 14, 1913. Serial No. 761,013. 1

T all whom it may concern Be it known that 1, JOHN S. WAGNER, a citizenof the United States, residing at Red fi ing, in the county of Goodhueand State of Minnesota, have invented certain new and usefulimprovements in Rail-Straightening Devices; and I do declare thefollowing to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention,such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains tomake and use the same.

This invention relates to improvements in rail straightening devices andparticularly to the devices for straightening the switch points ofrailway rails.

One object of the invention is to provide a device of this character bytheuse of which a bent switch point may be quickly and easilystraightened by one man without taking the parts up or removing anybolts or spikes.

Another object is to provide a device of this character which will besimple, strong, durable and inexpensive in construction, efficient andreliable in operation and well adapted to the purpose for which it isdesigned.

lVith these and other objects in view, the invention consists ofcertainnovel features of construction, and the combination andarrangement of parts as will be more fully described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings: Figure l is a perspective view of aportion of a rail way rail and a bent switch point showing theapplication of the invention for straightening the point. Fig. 2 is aside view of one side of the device with parts broken away and insection; Fig. 3 is a side view of the opposite side thereof; Fig. l is atop plan view of the device; Fig. 5 is an outer end view thereof; Fig. 6is an enlarged vertical cross sectional view taken on the line 6--6 ofFig. 3; Fig. 7 is a detail perspective view of the movable or pointengaging member of the device looking toward one side thereof; Fig. 8 isa similar view looking toward the other side of said movable member;Fig. 9 is a deatil'perspect-ive view of the segmental gear for operatingthe movable or point engaging member of the device.

My improved rail or switch point straightening device comprises astationary or anchoring member 1 comprising a rail engaging hook 2having on its inner end parallel outwardly and downwardly extendingguide plates 3 in the inner sides of which and in a plane below theinner end of the hook 2 are formed alined longitudinally disposed guidegrooves l. In one of the guide plates 3 and communicating with thegroove 4; in said plate is a threaded aperture 5 in which is arranged astop screw 6.

Slidably mounted between the lower portion of the guide plates 3 is amovable or switch point engaging member 7 comprising a block having onits side edges longitudinally disposed tongues 8 which enter and have asliding engagement with the grooves 4: in the inner sides of the plates3 whereby said block or movable member 7 is slidably supported in thestationary or anchoring member. The tongue 8 on one side of the block isrecessed or cut away for a portion of its length to form a space 9 withwhich the inner end of the stop screw 6 is engaged, said screw therebylimiting the sliding movement of the member 7 in either direction. Inthe inner end of the block or member 7 is formed a notch 10 the upperwall of which is beveled and overhangs or projects beyond the end of thelower wall of the notch as shown at 11, or in other words the notchedinner end of the block 7 conforms to the shape of the flange of theswitch point with which said inner end of the block is adapted to beengaged. The adjacent ends or lower corners of the guide plates 3 of thestationary member of the device are preferably cut 0E at an angle asshown at 12, thus preventingsaid corners from interfering with thefurther engagement of the movable member of the device with the switchpoint.

On the upper side of the movable member or block 7 of the device isformed a toothed rack 13 with which is adapted to be engaged a segmentalgear 14.- which is mounted on a shortshaft 15 the ends of which areengaged with the guide plates 3 on the stationary member of the deviceas shown. On the gear 14: is formed a shank 16 having therein a socket17 with which is adapted to be engaged a lever 18 whereby the gear 1 1may be rocked or oscillated on the shaft 15 and the teeth of the gearthus engaged with the teeth of the rack 13 on the movable member 7whereby the latter is projected and retracted as will be readilyunderstood. The lever 18 preferably has a detachable engagement with thesocket 17 in the shank 16 of the gear and the outer end of said lever 18Patented 0ct.28, 1913. v

preferably has formed thereon a tapered outer end 19 whereby the levermay be employed for other purposes when disengaged from the socket inthe shank 16o; the gear.

In the operation of my improved switch point straightening device awedge or stop block 20, which may be of any suitable construction, isplaced between the switch point and the adjacent side of the railopposite the bend in the point or at any other desired position afterwhich the hook 2 of the sta tionary or anchoring member of the device isengaged with the rail or other fixed object and the'notched end of'themovable member or block 7 of the device is engaged with the flange ofthe switch point or other part to be straightened"ahd at a suitabledistance from the bend therein as clearly shown in Fig. 1 of thedrawings. \Vhen the parts have thus been arranged and adjusted the lever18 is "swung outwardly thereby rocking the gear 14 in the properdirection for projecting or forcing the movable member 7 inwardly whichoperation will straighten or remove the bend from the switch point.

From the foregoing description taken in connection with the accompanyingdrawings, the construction and operation of the invention will bereadily understood without requiring a moreextended explanation.

Various changes in the form, proportion and the minor details ofconstruction may be resorted to without departing from the principle orsac'rificing any of the advantages of the invention as claimed.

Having thus described my invention, what I claimis:

rm: rail straightening device of the character described the combinationof a semicircular rail gripping member, guide plates arranged inparallel relation on th e inner end of said member, the former havingtherein oppositely disposed longitudinal grooves, a wedge slidablymounted between said plates and having a shoulder formed at its outerend, the latter being adapted to fit the part with which said wedge isengaged, longitudinal tongues formed on the sides of said wedge andadapted to engage the grooves in said guide plates, the tongue on oneside of said wedge being broken away to form a recess, a stop screwarranged in one of said guide plates and adapted to project within saidrecess to limit the movement of said wedge, a rack arranged on saidwedge, a segmental gear pivotally mounted between said plates inaposition to engage said rack, a shank formed on said gear having thereina socket and an operating lever adapted to detachably engage the socketin said shank whereby said gear may be manually operated to project andretract said wedge.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of twosubscribing wit nesses.

JOHN S. WAGNER.

Witnesses:

R. W. PUTNAM, HERMAN R. MILLER.

Uoples of this paltent ina'y be obtaine d fo 'r five each, by addressingtlie Commissioner of Patents. W5shii1jgt0n',D.0,f

